Amid ongoing regional tensions, a senior UAE official warned Iran that the Gulf states’ policy of passive defence has limits, and that continued attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure will not be tolerated indefinitely.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the UAE’s Federal National Council, confirmed that Gulf coordination is operating “at a high level” to assess recent attacks and “determine options and paths.”
“It is very important that the Iranian side realises that the Gulf states’ commitment to passive defence has its limits,” he said. “This will not stop if the aggression against citizens, residents, and civilian facilities continues.”
However, the UAE is working to avoid being drawn into a war that would harm the Iranian people. “We want all the best for the Iranian people,” Dr. Al Nuaimi said.
He criticised Iran’s public narrative, arguing it has been exposed as contradictory. “Iran presents a narrative in which it is committed to international law… and calls for good neighbourliness, but in its dealings with countries of the region, it is the first to violate these very principles,” he said.
Dr. Al Nuaimi noted that Gulf states had pledged their territories would not be used to attack Iran, yet that commitment was met with aggression. “The reward for this commitment from Iran was an attack on these countries… the UAE received what can only be described as brutal aggression,” he said, pointing to attacks on Oman—an active mediator—as a prime example. “Even those who were sympathetic to Iran are now shocked.”
‘Highway robbers or a failed state’
Highlighting Iran’s denial of responsibility for attacks launched from its territory, he said: “If the Foreign Minister says that his country is not responsible for attacks launched from it, then we are either in front of highway robbers, or a state that has lost its credibility and its commitments before the world and the international community.”
Dr. Al Nuaimi argued that the current attacks validated long-standing criticism of Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missiles, and regional militias. “The message is that everyone who was criticising Iran… their position was correct, and Iran must be prevented from all of this because its actions, especially with its neighbours, are aggressive actions.”
Civilian targets
He emphasised that Iran’s strikes targeted civilian infrastructure rather than military installations, creating what he described as “media noise” in the region. “The attacks that are taking place now have no relation to military bases. They target civilian facilities, all the airports in the region, and densely populated centres. The loser in this clamour is the regime,” he said.
He added that the UAE and other Gulf states would remain steadfast. “We will not be shaken from our positions. We will maintain our political line and discourse, and we are committed to preserving the security of everyone who lives on the land of the Emirates.”
‘In the wind’
Dr. Al Nuaimi said Iran’s actions have sent an unmistakable message of untrustworthiness, undermining the possibility of future negotiations. “Iran’s message to the world today is: do not trust us. We cannot be trusted. Even if we sign a million agreements, we will not respect them,” he said, noting that Iran broke its pledge not to attack the region. “The credibility of this regime is in the wind. It cannot be trusted. Even if you call for negotiations, who do you negotiate with? And who guarantees that this regime will honour its commitments?”
Residents ‘compete to defend’ UAE
Dr. Al Nuaimi also praised the UAE’s diverse resident community, describing their response as proof of the country’s successful model of coexistence. “I am proud to see residents on the land of the Emirates competing to defend the UAE, competing to show the truth of what is happening here. Look at social media: different nationalities are competing to highlight the UAE, defend it, adopt its discourse, and affirm their belonging to this nation,” he said.
He offered reassurance to all who live in the UAE. “I assure everyone that this region will remain safe. We will not allow anyone to destabilise it or tamper with its security. Everyone who lives on this land will find security and stability.”
